NYU definately has the edge for internships and jobs in NYC market. Firms will dig deeper into NYU class when hiring. However, the difference between the two schools is not as large as some may make it out to be. Unless you are gunning for someplace like WLRK, it may actually benefit you to *gasps* ignore the rankings and choose where you would be happiest. 3 years and a mountain of debt is not something to just brush aside and ignore. Granted Durham may not be as happening as NYC, but I would enjoy a big beer at Satie's with friends just as much as paying $1500/month rent and expensive drinks. Plus, instead of using your first year salary to repay loan + ~25% interest, you would have more flexibility to splurge.

If you want to enjoy your 3 years at law school, I think that Billy and team at Duke are going to make that happen for you. Your 2L year, you can drink sweet tea on the lawn with your puppy in March after your third 15 person seminar of the day which you had with an amazing professor that is actually invested in your intellectual growth, before trotting off to your law review or whatever other extracurricular you have chosen in which you actually have a say because there aren't 200 people in every club.

At NYU on that same day you'll be sitting in Washington Square park with your third triple latte of the day shivering in the cold and wondering why you got waitlisted in every single class you wanted to take and ended up taking something you didn't care about and why the professor still doesn't know your name.

Ok that is an exaggeration but the QOL at Duke will be significantly higher. Yes the opportunities are easier to get coming out of NYU but if you apply yourself you are not going to be at a significant disadvantage coming out of Duke. I am also biased because NYU is still ignoring me, but at this point I'm not sure I'd heed their siren call.

Oh and P.S. your Contracts professor at NYU couldn't possibly compare to the dreamboat at Duke!